These are 10 Holiday and Christmasevents we make sure not to miss every year! If you’re looking to start some family-friendly Christmas traditions around Columbus, start here!

Every year I feel slightly overwhelmed by all of the Holiday events I really don’t want to miss. A few years ago, I sat down and wrote them out on a calendar. And THAT is pretty much where the idea for this blog began! 😉

Now we’ve come full circle and, though there are probably hundreds of holiday events going on around Columbus, today I am sharing 10 things my family loves doing at Christmastime in Columbus!

Hands down, this is my favorite Columbus tradition of the entire year. Wow, did I really just say that? I did. I look forward to this probably more than anything else. I honestly don’t know how much my kids like it, but there are free cookies and hot chocolate, so I haven’t heard any complaints!

The streets of German Village are lit with luminaries and restaurants, shops, and even a few private homes along the route are open late with special deals, free goodies and live music! Designated parking areas and shuttles are available.

When: December 8, 2019, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: throughout German Village

You have to see Wildlights! The light shows are spectacular and the zoo becomes an (even more) magical place for about 6 weeks leading up to New Year’s Day! The first time we ever attempted to go to Wildlights, there was so much traffic that by the time we got there it was too late for my 1 yr old and we just drove right on by the entrance and back on home!

Weekends are very busy, so if you can, I suggest trying a week day evening and arriving before 5:00 PM! If you’re a member, you can also avoid the crowds by catching the Member Preview held in mid November.

Conservatory Aglow offers special holiday decorations, performances and evening hours at Franklin Park Conservatory. Throughout the season live music and special events are scheduled and the Conservatory is decorated beautifully (that goes without saying)!

There are lights throughout inside and outside and it’s breathtaking! During this season, Franklin Park Conservatory is open until 9:00 PM. There will be special family-friendly activities happening all through the season!

New in 2019, decorations will expand into the Grand Mallway. This year there will be a Special Engagement Admission Rate for this event and members will receive half off these rates. See the link for details.

Throughout the holiday season, the Scioto Mile is awash in light – Christmas lights, that is! Taking place on Saturday, December 7, 2019, is WinterFest. it will include live performances and food trucks, as well as seasonal ales and cocktails. The park will be full of lights beginning November 21st!

When you’re at Bicentennial Park, make plans to walk a few blocks to Columbus Commons where the park will be filled with holiday displays and lights! Just across the street (at the corner of High and Town) in the old Lazarus building, the windows will be filled with scenes from the 12 Days of Christmas! On December 7, 2019 there will be a free Santa’s Workshop at the Lazarus Building!

When: Late November through early January from dusk until to 11:00 PM
Where: 160 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215

6. Huntington Holiday Train

Main Library is home to the Huntington Holiday Train and every year this amazing display is set up during the holiday season! The library typically begins set up of the train in mid November and it is usually up through New Years!

If you happen to have kids that like trains, there is a also holiday train set up at the Ohio History Center. Granted, it’s not quite as elaborate as the Huntington Train, but since we’re members at Ohio History Center, this one is still a no-brainer for me and two boys who love trains! We don’t miss it! F

or two weekends in December, Ohio Village will host Dickens of a Christmas where you can celebrate Christmas in the 19th century with Victorian crafts, snacks, caroling and more!

This exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art isn’t necessarily holiday themed, but it is definitely a holiday tradition in Columbus! If you have kids on Christmas break, this would be a great reason to take them to the Art Museum!

The LEGO replica of Columbus is awesome and we love to visit at this time! There are usually blocks for free building in the Big Idea Gallery, too!

Admission is free on Sundays and on Thursday nights you “pay what you want” from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM!

We always enjoy going to Easton at Christmastime – and not just to do our Christmas shopping! There is a life-sized nativity and a humongous Christmas tree (an all-new, 56 ft tree covered in 28, 680 RGB LED’s arrived in 2017!)!

There are carriage rides, live music performances and the lighting ceremony takes place on November 22, 2019 beginning at 6:30 PM and includes a parade, a fireworks show, a visit from Santa and more!

Christmas Corner is something we love to do close to Christmas Eve! You can walk through a life-sized nativity following the Christmas story! The Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 5:30 PM.

There are choirs scheduled on Friday and Saturday evenings through December 23rd and free hot chocolate (donations accepted!) will be available on those evenings! There are ample parking lots designated for viewing this display!

Something new is always popping up for kids to do in Columbus! It’s one of the amazing things about Columbus – we never lack for something to do! It’s at least a part time job keeping up with it – I can testify to that personally! 😉

Two of these exhibits are permanent and two are temporary, so mark your calendars so you don’t miss these fun, family-friendly exhibits!

The new Dinosaur Gallery at COSI is a permanent exhibit that is included with admission or membership! If you have dinosaur lovers, they will be enraptured! The exhibit includes a full-size cast of Tyrannosaurs Rex, dinosaur bones, a model of an Oviraptor nest kids can actually climb on, dinosaur prints and many, many more educational displays, interactive exhibits and models! COSI is open every day, May through August, and Wednesday through Sunday beginning late September through April.

In late October, Columbus Museum of Art unveiled a newly remodeled Wonder Room! The room was created to feel like kids are entering a large “blanket fort” in which to play and imagine! Like the previous design, there are several stations with hands-on activities for kids, but the new theme leans towards textiles, fabrics and tactile experiences. There’s felt, fashion design and weaving. You can also create spiders out of craft materials, draw, and hide out under the stars. Visiting this exhibit is included in your admission or membership to CMA.

This temporary collaboration between Easton and Miami Children’s Museum, presented by Warner Bros. is the first licensed traveling exhibit based on the movie The Wizard of Oz. It will be housed on the 2nd floor of the Easton Station Building until March 25, 2018. Kids can create a tornado in Dorothy’s house, make their own scarecrow, see scenes from the movie, pick vegetables on the farm, try out optical illusions, climb through the the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West and take part in daily scheduled activities and crafts! Space inside the exhibit is limited so anticipate a short wait in line to get in. There are no flying monkeys or wicked witch, in case you’re concerned about scaring the kids, but there is a Wizard who lights up with a glowing red fire. This is a free exhibit!

While you’re visiting the Wonder Room at Columbus Museum of Art, be sure to check out Think Outside the Brick, a temporary, but annual, collaboration with Ohio LEGO User’s Group! This exhibit, entirely made of LEGOs includes a large display of the city of Columbus, as well as other scenes like pirates, zombies, airplanes, a park and more! On the wall of the room there is a list of items for kids to search for within the scene! Also on the first floor, check out the area for kids to make their own creations out of white LEGOs to display on shelves against a black wall. This exhibit is included with admission or membership and will be on display through March 2, 2018! The Columbus Museum of Art is free on Sundays!

On Mother’s Day my basic goal is not to be stressed. My kids are pretty young so I don’t desire to go to a fancy brunch where I just end up stressed out because they can’t sit still or won’t listen. I’ve only been at this mom thing for 5 Mother’s Days, but it seems to me that moms fall into two camps: those who just want some time ALONE to get pampered or go shopping or take a nap, and those who want to spend the day doing special things WITH their kids. Well, I’ve got a foot in both camps because I like to have lunch out with my kids and THEN get to take a nap! 😉

If you’re looking for something different to do WITH you kids that doesn’t involve glaring at them over a Belgian waffle because they’re telling potty jokes during brunch, then pick one of these kid-friendly, yet special for Mom, events going on next week!

The whole family is invited to participate in this event that raises money for families in Franklin County who are in need. Focused on providing diapers to families in our community who need them most, Columbus Birth and Parenting hosts this 5K and 1 mile walk/run plus kiddie dash each year to raise support for the cause. 1 in 3 families must REUSE soiled diapers again and again because they cannot afford to keep their children clean, dry and healthy!

You can feel good about spending your Mother’s Day weekend helping families in need by participating in the race, walk or kiddie dash and your family can enjoy a fun morning filled with food trucks, face painting, fun kid’s activities, flowers for purchase and fabulous raffles. It’s a Saturday morning out at a park to celebrate Mother’s Day as a family while helping struggling mothers in Columbus at the same time.

I will be participating in the 1 mile run/walk (let’s just admit it: walk. I’ve only run one 5K in my life and it’s not happening again any time soon.) And I would love if you would consider joining this cause on May 13th! No Child Wet Behind is offering my readers $5 off with the code WHATSHOULDWEDOTODAY ! (Cost is $35 without code.) Enter the code at checkout!

Can’t make it on the 13th? You can still help out by donating a pack of diapers at any of these locations:

On May 13th and 14th, VIP members (join here or inquire in the store) can come in with Mom to build a mini tulip for free! Recommended for ages 6-14 and you must register in advance by calling the store (Easton: 614-342-2710).

I know a couple of people involved in Fit4Mom and they LOVE it! One of them shared about it on the blog here. It sounds so great and if I had joined a few months ago maybe I would be running the 5K mentioned above instead of the 1 mile walk. 😉 haha. Anyway . . . new moms are always welcome to join and on Wednesday, May 10th, 2017 at 9:30 AM, they are having a Mother’s Day Celebration which includes free coffee and donuts (an exercise program with donuts?! how great is that??) AND they will be making a Mother’s Day keepsake craft. See the link for info on how to register!

On Saturday, May 13, 2017, Picassos is having a Celebrate Mom Open House from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM! Kids can decorate a flower pot for free and Portraits by Laura will be there for mini sessions ($30 for 5 poses and 5 digital images). You can shop for Mother’s Day gifts and check out discounted classes!

The Franklin Park Conservatory would be a beautiful place to spend Mother’s Day Weekend! On Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM kids can paint a flower pot for Mom and plant a flower in it! It’s also one of the last weekends to see the Fairy Gardens – the last day of the exhibit is May 29, 2017.

On Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14, 2017) you can paint a picture with your child! The theme is elephants and the cost is $35 which includes supplies for Mom and one child. All skill levels are welcome for this event and you must register in advance!

Another option for Sunday is the Mother’s Day Brunch at American Girl at Easton! You must register ahead for this event which includes a meal in the restaurant, a flower for your daughter, games, a craft, a spiral notebook and a picture frame! This is recommended for girls ages 8 and up.

One More Thing . . .

Looking for a way to pamper yourself? Join 614Mom for Celebrating You, an event to celebrate Columbus Moms with a lipstick bar, swag bags and more! This is a FREE event for moms but it will also be a location where you can bring a pack of diapers for No Child Wet Behind! 🙂

No matter what you choose to do, I hope you have a happy Mother’s Day and do something YOU enjoy! Next week Iwill be celebrating my readers with a week of giveaways in honor of Mother’s Day, so make sure to follow me on social media (links below) for all the fun giveaways!